Mike Pence: Indonesia’s brand of moderate Islam an ‘inspiration to the world’

US Vice President Mike Pence (L) chats with Indonesia President Joko Widodo at the presidential palace in Jakarta, Indonesia April 20, 2017. Source: Reuters/Darren Whiteside

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TOURING Southeast Asia’s largest mosque in Indonesia on Thursday, US Vice President Mike Pence praised Indonesia’s Islam as an “inspiration to the world.”

Pence visited Masjid Istiqlal in Central Jakarta as part of his 10-day tour of Southeast Asia, in what is the first trip to the region by a senior Trump administration official.

The visit comes amid ongoing tensions in the South China Sea, concerns about the growing influence of Islamic State in Southeast Asia, and strained US-Philippine relations since Rodrigo Duterte’s rise to power.

US Vice President Mike Pence, with his wife Karen (L) talks to Chief Imam Nasaruddin Umar, during his visit to the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia April 20, 2017. Source: Reuters/Beawiharta

“As the largest majority-Muslim country, Indonesia’s tradition of moderate Islam, frankly, is an inspiration to the world,” Pence said. “In your nation as in mine, religion unifies, it doesn’t divide.”

He later met with leaders from a range of Indonesia’s many faith communities, including Christians, Buddhists and Hindus, reportsReuters.

But it was somewhat awkward timing, given only the night before at the mosque, hardline cleric Rizieq Shibab and leader of the notorious Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) had welcomed and personally congratulated the victor of Jakarta’s gubernatorial election Anies Baswedan.

Anies and his running mate Sandiaga Uno swept to victory over the incumbent Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama on Wednesday, in a racially and religiously charged electoral campaign.

The Anies-Sandiaga camp has attracted criticism for capitalising on a movement by hardline Muslims to unseat and imprison Christian Ahok for allegedly blasphemous remarks he made regarding the Quran last September.

Trade was a major issue on Pence’s agenda, who insisted the United States wants fairer trade with Indonesia. Southeast Asia’s largest economy is one of 16 nations currently under review for having a trade surplus with the US.